Blagoy Georgiev
{{short description|Bulgarian footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Blagoy Georgiev
| image = Blagoy_Georgiev_2013.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Georgiev in 2013
| fullname = Blagoy Zhorev Georgiev
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1981|12|21|df=y}}
| birth_place = Sofia, Bulgaria
| position = Attacking midfielder
| currentclub =
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = Slavia Sofia
| years1 = 1999–2006
| clubs1 = Slavia Sofia
| caps1 = 172
| goals1 = 46
| years2 = 2006
| clubs2 = → Deportivo Alavés (loan)
| caps2 = 10
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2006–2008
| clubs3 = Red Star Belgrade
| caps3 = 20
| goals3 = 2
| years4 = 2007–2008
| clubs4 = → MSV Duisburg (loan)
| caps4 = 31
| goals4 = 2
| years5 = 2009–2012
| clubs5 = Terek Grozny
| caps5 = 105
| goals5 = 7
| years6 = 2013–2014
| clubs6 = Amkar Perm
| caps6 = 36
| goals6 = 3
| years7 = 2014–2016
| clubs7 = Rubin Kazan
| caps7 = 37
| goals7 = 1
| years8 = 2016–2017
| clubs8 = Orenburg
| caps8 = 30
| goals8 = 7
| totalcaps = 441
| totalgoals = 68
| nationalyears1 = 2000–2003
| nationalteam1 = Bulgaria U21
| nationalcaps1 = 15
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2004–2011
| nationalteam2 = Bulgaria
| nationalcaps2 = 50
| nationalgoals2 = 5
}}
Blagoy Zhorev Georgiev ({{langx|bg|Благой Жорев Георгиев}}; born 21 December 1981) is a Bulgarian former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.
Some of his more prominent clubs include Slavia Sofia, Red Star Belgrade, Terek Grozny, Amkar Perm, Rubin Kazan and Orenburg. He also earned 50 caps while representing Bulgaria on an international level.
Career
=Slavia Sofia=
Georgiev was born in Sofia. He is a product of the Slavia Sofia youth academy.{{cite web| url =http://www.pfcslavia.com/pages.aspx?id=24| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20111007220217/http://www.pfcslavia.com/pages.aspx?id=24| url-status =dead| archive-date =7 October 2011| title =Детско-юношеска школа на ПФК Славия| work =pfcslavia.com}} He signed a professional contract in June 1999{{citation needed|date=December 2011}} and then made his first team debut under Miroslav Mironov' management three months later, on 17 October, in a 3–1 home win over Pirin Blagoevgrad. Georgiev's first goal came on 27 November 1999, when he scored a last-minute against Beroe Stara Zagora to secure a 1–1 away draw. On 11 March 2000, he netted Slavia's only goal in their league loss, a 2–1 defeat against Velbazhd Kyustendil. He then scored in Slavia's 3–2 win against Botev Plovdiv on 22 April, taking his tally for the season to 3 goals.
On 27 September 2003, Georgiev scored his first-ever hat-trick in his career, scoring four goals in a 5–2 away win over Chernomorets Burgas. After scoring his 17th league goal in the final game of the 2003–04 season, a 2–0 win against Naftex Burgas, he ended the campaign in joint second place with Stoyko Sakaliev in the race for the Bulgarian A PFG golden boot.
During his six years at Slavia Stadium, he scored 46 league goals in 172 matches.
==Alaves (loan)==
On 13 January 2006, Deportivo Alavés confirmed Georgiev would join on loan until the end of the season.{{cite web | url = http://dariknews.bg/view_article.php?article_id=40234 | title = Благо Георгиев вече е играч на Алавес | language = bg | date = 13 January 2006 | work = dariknews.bg | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130927220542/http://dariknews.bg/view_article.php?article_id=40234 | archive-date = 27 September 2013 | df = dmy-all }} He made his La Liga debut a week later, during Alaves's 2–0 loss against Barcelona at Camp Nou. He spent most of his time with Alaves on the bench. He returned to Bulgaria at the end of the season having made 10 appearances in Alaves's unsuccessful battle against relegation.
==Red Star ==
On 14 June 2006, Serbian side Red Star Belgrade signed Georgiev on a three-year deal.{{cite web | url = https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/01b6-0f848ae5101f-15e17318e27d-1000--georgiev-accepts-red-star-task/ | title = Georgiev accepts Red Star task | date = 14 June 2006 | work = UEFA}}
==Duisburg (loan)==
On 28 May 2007, Georgiev joined Bundesliga side MSV Duisburg on loan until the end of the 2007–08 season.{{cite web | url = http://novinar.bg/news/blago-otide-pod-naem-v-bundesligata_MjI2Mjs0Mw==.html | title = Благо отиде под наем в Бундеслигата | language = bg | date = 28 May 2007 | work = novinar.bg}} On 14 March 2008, he scored his first goal in a 2–1 loss against Schalke 04. On 4 May, he scored a last-minute winning goal for 3–2 over Bayer Leverkusen. During the season, he earned 31 appearances.
=Terek Grozny=
File:Zenit-Rubin 2015 (7).jpg in 2015]]
On 6 January 2009, Georgiev signed a four-year contract with Russian side Terek Grozny for 1.5 million Euros.{{cite web | url = http://russia.theoffside.com/team-news/blagoi-georgiev-joins-terek-grozny.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101103024433/http://russia.theoffside.com/team-news/blagoi-georgiev-joins-terek-grozny.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = 3 November 2010 | title = Blagoi Georgiev joins Terek Grozny | date = 6 January 2009 | work = russia.theoffside.com }} He made his Russian Premier League debut on the opening day of the 2009 season, on 15 March, in a 1–0 home win over Spartak Nalchik.{{cite web | url = https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2009/03/15/russia/premier-league/terek-groznyi/spartak-nalchik/744588/ | title = Terek 1–0 Spartak Nalchik | date = 15 March 2009 | work = soccerway.com}} Georgiev's first goal came on 19 July, when he scored in a 3–2 home win against Zenit Saint Petersburg, for which he was awarded with a Land Rover by the head of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov.{{cite web | title=Когато Благой Георгиев вкара на Зенит и получи за награда...чисто нов джип от Кадиров| author=| website=sportlive.bg| language=Bulgarian|url=https://www.sportlive.bg/timeout/timeoutother/kogato-blagoj-georgiev-vkara-na-zenit-i-poluchi-za-nagrada-chisto-nov-djip-ot-kadirov-1716158.html| date=29 March 2022 |access-date=5 July 2022}}
On the eve of the 2010 season, Georgiev was selected by manager Anatoly Baidachny, as the replacement captain after Timur Dzhabrailov's retirement.{{cite web | url = http://www.novsport.com/news75879_1037.html | title = Благо Георгиев стана капитан на Терек | language = bg | date = 17 January 2010 | work = novsport.com}} On 10 May 2010, he scored the opening goal of the league game against CSKA Moscow which Terek lost 1–4. Three days later, he provided two assists in a 2–0 home victory over Saturn Ramenskoye.{{cite web | url = http://www.24chasa.bg/Article.asp?ArticleId=480392 | title = Асистенции на Благо при 2:0 за Терек | language = bg | date = 14 May 2010 | work = 24chasa.bg | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100927233347/http://www.24chasa.bg/Article.asp?ArticleId=480392 | archive-date = 27 September 2010 | df = dmy-all }}
Georgiev scored his first league goal of the 2011 season and the winner against Anzhi Makhachkala, in a 1–0 victory on 20 May. On 13 August, he scored his second goal of the season, in a 6–2 defeat at Dynamo Moscow.{{cite web | url = http://free-soccer-picks.com/soccer-news.php?id=12935 | title = Blagoy Georgiev scored in defeat for the Terek loss Dynamo Moscow | date = 13 August 2011 | work = free-soccer-picks.com}} On 5 November, in a 2–0 home victory over Krasnodar, Blago assisted Musawengosi Mguni for the second goal.{{cite web | url = http://www.sportal.bg/news.php?news=333541 | title = Терек се справи с Краснодар, Благо с асистенция | language = bg | date = 5 November 2011 | work = sportal.bg}} On 28 December 2011, few days after his 30th birthday, he was reported to have become a target for Lokomotiv Moscow.{{cite web | url = http://dariknews.bg/view_article.php?article_id=830555 | title = Благо отпразнува 30, Локо Москва го пожела | language = bg | date = 28 December 2011 | work = dariknews.bg}}
On 4 November 2012, Georgiev marked his 100th Russian Premier League game by scoring a penalty in a 3–1 loss against Anzhi Makhachkala.
=Amkar Perm=
Georgiev signed with Amkar Perm on 19 December 2012 on a three-year deal.{{cite web | url = http://en.rsport.ru/football/20121219/636481148.html | title = Georgiev to Join Amkar in 2013 | date = 19 December 2012 | work = rsport.ru | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121225130751/http://en.rsport.ru/football/20121219/636481148.html | archive-date = 25 December 2012 | df = dmy-all }}
=Rubin Kazan=
On 15 August 2014, Georgiev joined Rubin Kazan, signing a two-year deal.{{cite web | url = http://www.novsport.com/news1143541_1030.html | title = Благо Георгиев подписа с Рубин (Казан) | date = 15 August 2014 | work = novsport.com | language = bg}} Following his transfer he took the number 77 shirt. He made his debut two days later, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–1 home draw against Lokomotiv Moscow. His first league goal for Rubin gave them a 2–1 win over Torpedo Moscow on 29 September.
=Orenburg=
Georgiev transferred to FC Orenburg before the 2016–17 season as the club made their debut in the Russian Premier League. Orenburg was relegated at the end of the season, but he stayed on to play in the second-tier Russian Football National League. On 29 December 2017, he was released from his contract by mutual consent.{{cite web|publisher=FC Orenburg|url=https://fcorenburg.ru/news/novosti-kluba/blago-i-vladislav-kulik-pokidayut-fk-orenburg.html|script-title=ru:Благо и Владислав Кулик покидают ФК "Оренбург"|date=29 December 2017|language=ru}}
=Retirement=
The day after he resigned with FC Orenburg, Georgiev announced that he would retire from professional football and noted that he was not retiring because of not being in shape, but because of lack of motivation.{{cite web | url = https://www.sportal.bg/news.php?news=701350 | title = Благо Георгиев: Спирам с футбола, имам нови планове | language = bg | website = sportal.bg | date = 30 December 2017 | access-date = 30 December 2017}}
International career
File:Blagoy Georgiev - 2011.jpg in 2011]]
A Bulgaria international, Georgiev was also previously a member of the country's under-21 team. He has been capped 50 times and scored 5 goals for Bulgaria. On 11 October 2011, he announced his retirement from Bulgarian national team. In September 2012, it was revealed that Georgiev was considering returning to the national team.{{cite web | url = http://topsport.ibox.bg/news/id_181481966| title = Георгиев иска при "трикольорите", преосмислил отказа си от националния| language = bg | date = 26 September 2012| access-date = 8 October 2014 | work = topsport.bg}}
Personal life
Georgiev is a devout Christian and has a number of faith-related tattoos.{{cite web | url = http://topsport.ibox.bg/news/id_890085346| title = Набожният Благо обладал Лияна в манастир, "Обаждаше ми се през 10 минути, плака, когато бебето се роди", каза Христина | language = bg | date = 17 September 2010| access-date = 8 October 2014 | work = topsport.bg}}
Georgiev previously had a fling with singer Liana{{cite web | url = http://topsport.ibox.bg/news/id_1037314102| title = Лияна възпя Благой Георгиев, певицата отвръща на удара| language = bg | date = 16 December 2010| access-date = 8 October 2014 | work = topsport.bg}} and was formerly in a long-term relationship with gymnast Hristina Vitanova (with whom he has two children - Yoanna and David). Georgiev was then engaged to Russian dancer Esmer Omerova,{{cite web | url = http://www.sportal.bg/news.php?news=551695| title = Благой Георгиев предложи брак на Есмер в Дубай | language = bg | date = 11 June 2015| access-date = 1 July 2015 | work = sportal.bg}} the mother of his third child - Elay.{{cite web | title=Благой Георгиев си татуира Златка и заличи всички бивши| author=Borisov, Ivaylo| website=fakti.bg| language=Bulgarian|url=https://fakti.bg/sport/502754-blagoi-georgiev-si-tatuira-zlatka-i-zalichi-vsichki-bivshi| date=18 August 2020|access-date=8 October 2021}} Since 2018 he has been together with model Zlatka Raykova, with whom he also has a child, named Blagoy Jr. and born in 2019.{{cite web | title=Златка Райкова дари Благой Георгиев с нов наследник (СНИМКА)| author=| website=sportlive.bg| language=Bulgarian|url=https://www.sportlive.bg/timeout/facefromnews/zlatka-rajkova-dari-blagoj-georgiev-s-nov-naslednik-snimka-1380407.html| date=30 September 2019 |access-date=8 October 2021}}
In 2015, Georgiev had been charged with vandalism after carving his initials into Rome’s Colosseum with a coin.{{cite web | url = https://www.thelocal.it/20150716/soccer-star-booked-for-vandalizing-colosseum | title = Footballer charged with defacing Colosseum | website = The Local | date = 16 July 2015 | access-date = 11 July 2023}}
Career statistics
=Club=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition{{cite web |url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/blagoy-georgiev/16458/ |title=Blagoy Georgiev |website=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |access-date=23 February 2025}} | |||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Cup !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="9"|Slavia Sofia
|16 | 3 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 19 | 3 | |
| 2000–01
|A Group |19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 20 | 0 | |
| 2001–02
|A Group |29 | 3 | 3 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 32 | 4 | |
| 2002–03
|A Group |24 | 7 | 5 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 29 | 8 | |
| 2003–04
|A Group |29 | 17 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 30 | 17 | |
| 2004–05
|A Group |28 | 11 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 29 | 11 | |
| 2005–06
|A Group |14 | 3 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 14 | 4 | |
| 2008–09
|A Group |13 | 2 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 14 | 2 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!172||46||16||2||0|||0||188||48 | |||||||
| Deportivo Alavés (loan)
|10 | 0 | ? | ? | colspan="2"|— | 10 | 0 | |
| Red Star Belgrade (loan)
|20 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 27 | 2 |
| MSV Duisburg (loan)
|31 | 2 | 2 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 33 | 3 | |
| rowspan="5"|Terek Grozny
|2009 |27 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 27 | 1 | |
| 2010
|Russian Premier League |19 | 1 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 20 | 1 | |
| 2011–12
|Russian Premier League |40 | 4 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 43 | 4 | |
| 2012–13
|Russian Premier League |19 | 1 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 21 | 1 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!105||7||6||0||0||0||111||7 | |||||||
| rowspan="4"|Amkar Perm
|Russian Premier League |10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 10 | 2 | |
| 2013–14
|Russian Premier League |23 | 1 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 24 | 1 | |
| 2014–15
|Russian Premier League |3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 3 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!36||3||1||0||0||0||37||3 | |||||||
| rowspan="3"|Rubin Kazan
|Russian Premier League |22 | 1 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 25 | 1 | |
| 2015–16
|Russian Premier League |15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 24 | 1 |
| colspan="2"|Total
!37||1||3||0||9||1||49||2 | |||||||
| rowspan="3"|Orenburg
|Russian Premier League |23 | 6 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 24 | 6 | |
| 2017–18
|Russian Premier League |7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 8 | 1 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!30||7||2||0||colspan="2"|—||32||7 | |||||||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!441||68||30||3||15||1||486||72 |
=International goals=
| class="wikitable"
! # !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score!! Result !! Competition | ||||||
| 1 | 8 February 2007 | Nicosia, Cyprus | {{fb|Cyprus}} | 0–3 | 0–3 | Friendly |
| 2 | 14 November 2007 | Celje, Slovenia | {{fb|SLO}} | 0–3 | 0–3 | UEFA Euro 2008 Qual. |
| 3 | 6 September 2008 | Podgorica, Montenegro | {{fb|MNE}} | 2–2 | 2–2 | World Cup 2010 Qual. |
| 4 | 19 November 2008 | Belgrade, Serbia | {{fb|SRB}} | 6–1 | 6–1 | Friendly |
| 5 | 18 November 2009 | Ta' Qali, Malta | {{fb|Malta}} | 1–3 | 1–4 | Friendly |
Honours
Red Star Belgrade
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{NFT player|pid=9097}}
- {{Fussballdaten|georgievblagoy|Blagoy Georgiev}}
{{commons category|Blagoy Georgiev}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Georgiev, Blagoy}}
Category:Bulgarian men's footballers
Category:Bulgarian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Bulgaria men's international footballers
Category:First Professional Football League (Bulgaria) players
Category:Serbian SuperLiga players
Category:Russian Premier League players
Category:PFC Slavia Sofia players
Category:Deportivo Alavés players
Category:Red Star Belgrade footballers
Category:FC Akhmat Grozny players
Category:FC Amkar Perm players
Category:FC Rubin Kazan players
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Germany
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Serbia
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Spain
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Russia
Category:Bulgarian expatriate sportspeople in Russia
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Survivor (franchise) winners